In a decisive move to strengthen public safety across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, CP Ajao S. Adewale, has ordered an extensive security sweep targeting criminal hideouts, uncompleted buildings, and abandoned structures within the territory.
The directive, which takes immediate effect, is part of a renewed strategic plan to dismantle criminal networks and prevent the use of such spaces as operational bases for illicit activities.
According to a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) have been instructed to intensify patrols and conduct thorough raids in areas suspected to be harbouring miscreants or unauthorized occupants.
CP Ajao emphasized that the Command’s ongoing efforts are aimed at ensuring that residents of the FCT can live and conduct their daily activities in a secure and peaceful environment. “We will not allow criminals to find comfort or cover under the guise of abandoned or uncompleted buildings,” he stated.
He further directed that all property developers within the FCT must visit the nearest police divisions to register and document all workers, artisans, and security personnel who operate or sleep at construction sites.
The Commissioner set a deadline of October 31, 2025, for developers to comply with the documentation exercise, warning that failure to do so could attract sanctions or further police scrutiny.
In addition, CP Ajao ordered DPOs to ensure that regular patrols are conducted in such areas, especially during evening hours, and that any unidentified person found on-site after 6:00 p.m. should be arrested and profiled accordingly.
He also reiterated the Command’s ban on scavenging activities, popularly known as “Baban Bola,” describing them as a major security concern that often serves as a cover for criminal surveillance and theft.
“Scavenging remains strictly prohibited within the FCT. Anyone caught engaging in such activity will be treated as a suspect until proven otherwise,” CP Ajao warned.
The Police Commissioner called on residents, estate associations, and community leaders to complement the efforts of law enforcement by remaining vigilant and reporting suspicious movements or strange faces within their neighbourhoods.
He stressed that security is a collective responsibility, adding that communities must ensure that their security guards and domestic staff are properly profiled at the nearest police divisions.
CP Ajao also cautioned residents against providing accommodation or shelter to unknown persons without police verification, noting that such actions inadvertently aid criminal infiltration into peaceful communities.
The Command encouraged residents to take advantage of its emergency contact lines — 08032003913 and 08061581938 — to report any suspicious activity or distress situation requiring police attention.
SP Adeh reaffirmed the Command’s commitment to proactive policing, community collaboration, and swift response to security threats, assuring residents that no effort would be spared in maintaining law and order within the FCT.
With this latest directive, the FCT Police Command signals its determination to ensure that the capital city remains a fortress against criminal activity — and that no hideout is left unchecked.
